Improvement in hedge-trimmers



' ,l UErrEnSrarEs MEET Enron.

JAMEs MyvANN'osDALi. Ani) oLrvER w. vANNosDALL, on NEWARK, ILL.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. l 12,300, dated February 28, 1871; antedated i i February 18, 1871.

To all whom 'it may concern: A

Be it known that we,-JAMEs M. VANNos- DALL and OLivER` W. VANNosDALL, of Newl ark, in thel county of Kendalland State of I1- linois,\have `.invented 'a `new and useful Improvementin Hedge-Trimmers, of which the following' is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing The nature of ourinvention consistsr in a combination and arrangement of parts, as will d l be more fully hereinafter speciiied.

Referring to the drawing, Figure l represents a top or plan view of our improved hedgecutter; Fig. 2, an end elevation, and Fig. 3 a

rear elevation.

` C is the main frame of the machine; D, the

` wheels; and E, the tongue, to which the draft l is applied. `Fare `uprights from the-frame (l,

and they support another frame, A, that extends out over one of thewheels. B is also a d frame, and is pivoted to the frame A at c a.

H is a tumbling-rod,`having bearings on the frame A at l) `b. This rod has a bevel-wheel, I, upon itsouter end to which the knives J are, attached, and it also has a universal joint Vand a bearing on the pivoted frame A.

The construction of the gearing and frames for holding anddriving the cutting-knives is substantially the same as shown and described in the Letters Patent issued to us January 25, 1870. But by connecting the braces K to a `sliding cross-piece, L, and connecting that by the link S. T is a lever, by which Athe operatorturns the rock-shaft O, and it is held in any desired position by the spring-pin U,

" projecting through the holes in the piece V.

The operator, by grasping the lever T and throwingback the pinU, can turn,the rockshaft O, andfthereby tilt the frame B on its pivots a a till the knivesJ stand at any desired angle for trimming the side of the hedge; but the same operation that tilts the frame B also slides the cross-piece L on the frame A, and keeps the shaft W, that carries the knives J', in the same vertical position. i

The frame X, that holds the shaft W, is pivoted to the frame B at o c.

The braces K and K', that/brace the frame X, have various holes in them, as shown, for the purpose of allowing the frame X to be adjusted to different heights, or inclined from `a perpendicular position, as may be desired.

If it isdesired to trim the top of a very low hedge, the frame Xis removed from the frame B, inverted, and 4attached beneath the frame,

the braces "K and K being connected the same, but extending up instead of down, and the bevel-wheel that drives the shaft W engaging with the wheel I from beneath instead of from above, Vas shown.

By extending the frame A out over the wheel the frame B can be pivoted thereto nearer the knives, and, being held and operated at the long end from the pivots, is held much iirmen and operated easier.

Y is a drivewhee1, firmly secured to the axle of the machine, and engages with the cog-wheel Z on the same shaft with the wheel W. The wheel Z is placed loosely 0n the shaft, and the wheel W is so placed on the shaft as to slide laterally but not revolve thereon.

L is `a lever for sliding the wheel W on its shaft to throw the machine in or out of gear.

B' are braces, bracing the frame A to the frame C.

Having described the construction and operation of our improved .machina what we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,

and cross-piece L, substantially as and for the 4purpose specified.

JAMES M. VANNOSDALL. OLIVER W. VANNOSDALL.

Witnesses C. D. CLEvELAED, ISAAC Lor'r. 

